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The Nancy K. Perry Children's Shelter was established as a not-for-profit, 501 c(3) organization
in 1972 to serve the community by providing temporary emergency care for the protection of abused,
neglected, abandoned or otherwise exploited children of the County of Lexington.
The Shelter opened its doors as Welcome Home, Inc., on December 2, 1972, operating under the
direction of the Family Court. This was the first facility of its type in the South Carolina.
Initially the shelter facility was a World War II barracks that was donated by the Opportunity School
and moved to a location in downtown Lexington to the site of the present County Administration Building.
The barracks was totally renovated, primarily through the work of volunteers. The Shelter received a
small appropriation from the county delegation for operations. Governor West declared December 2, 1972
as Welcome Home Day. Opening ceremonies were held that day and the family court immediately began placing
children under the shelter's care.
In 1974, Lexington County, using primarily prison labor, constructed a new building for the shelter because
the original site was needed for a new County Administration Building. Located behind the Law Enforcement
Complex on Gibson Road, the new Shelter was intended to meet the programs long-term needs.In 1990 it was
necessary to leave that location because of the expansion of the law enforcement complex. The Shelter
leased a house in the Lexington area as temporary quarters and because of space limitations was forced to
decrease the number of children who could be served at any given time from fourteen to five.
The Board of Trustees embarked on a capital campaign to construct a purpose-built facility. An intensive
public awareness effort began and approximately $230,000 was raised within two years. The balance of the
approximately $300,000 needed for the construction was borrowed by the Board (and repaid in about three
years!) Carroll, Ted and LuRue McGee donated approximately 2.6 acres of land as the site for the new
shelter.
The building was dedicated on February 14, 1993 as The Nancy K. Perry Children's Shelter, a decision made
by the Board of Trustees in 1991 to honor the long-time involvement of Mrs. Perry as a volunteer,
houseparent, and executive director. Mrs. Perry is seen below in a 2002 photograph with her grandaughter.
In January 2000, a new administrative annex was added to the Shelter. This new wing included a conference
room, kitchen, and offices for the executive director and two other staff members. The first full time
executive director for the Shelter was hired on April 1, 2002, and a new chapter in the Shelter's history
began.
There have been many changes over the past 30 years, but through it all the Shelter has remained dedicated
to community involvement and support, quality care, and cost effective operations. With the support of the
citizens of Lexington County, we look forward to serving many other children and helping turn their
difficult past into promising futures by providing services and unconditional love.
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World War II Barracks
The First Shelter, Before Renovations
(1972)
The shelter as it looks now.
Mrs. Nancy Perry
and her Grandaughter
(2002)
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